President Donald Trump is calling on Congress to consider amending the U.S. Constitution to end birthright citizenship, WBAL-TV reports.

The push targets the principle, anchored in the Fourteenth Amendment, that children born on U.S. soil automatically acquire American citizenship. Trump's appeal to Congress signals a shift in tactics for a policy goal he has pursued through other means during his administration.

What Is at Stake

Birthright citizenship derives from the Fourteenth Amendment, ratified in 1868, which states that all persons born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are citizens. Any change to that guarantee would require amending the Constitution — a demanding process that needs two-thirds approval in both chambers of Congress plus ratification by three-fourths of the states.

The president's call puts the question before lawmakers rather than relying solely on executive action. Amending the Constitution through Congress is the route Trump is now openly encouraging, according to the report.

Who Would Be Affected

If Congress ever adopted such an amendment, the change would reach children born in the United States to non-citizen parents, a population that currently receives citizenship automatically at birth under long-standing constitutional interpretation.

For now, the proposal remains a call to action, not a change in law. Birthright citizenship stands as the operative rule, and any amendment would face a long legislative and ratification path before taking effect.

What Happens Next

The matter rests with Congress. Lawmakers would need to initiate the amendment process, and the proposal would require the supermajority support described above at the federal level, followed by ratification across the states.

Immigration watchers and families should track statements from the White House and congressional leadership for any formal legislative text. No deadline, quota, or eligibility change currently applies — this is a proposed constitutional amendment under discussion, not an enacted rule.

Passport File will continue to monitor official announcements from the administration and Congress on this issue.